Spinning reel having a combined feathering and line pick-up means



May 25, 1965 R. D. HULL 3,135,405

SPINNING REEL HAVING A COMBINED FEATHERING AND LINE PICK-UP MEANSOriginal Filed June 10. 1960 4 Sheets-she 1 R. De Hu// INVENTOR.

Aria/FIVE May 25, 1965 R D HULL 3,185,405

SPINNING REEL HANIN A COMBINED FEATHERING AND LINE PICK-UP MEANSOriginal Filed June 10. 1960 4 sheetssheet 2 IIIIIII!".

R. .De Ha INVENTOR.

A TI'ORA/E R. D. HULL SPINNING REEL HAVING A COMBINED FEATHERING May 25,1965 AND LINE PICKUP MEANS Original Filed June 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet.5

- INVENTOR.

May 25, 1965 R. D. HULL SPINNING REEL HAVING A COMBINED FEATHERING ANDLINE PICK-UP MEANS Original Filed June 10, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. 17sHu/l HIM/ENTOR.

ATTORNEY;

United States Patent 3,185,405 SPINNING REEL HAVING A COMBINEDFEATHERING AND LINE PICK-UP MEANS R. Dell Hull, 1131 E. Easton St.,Tulsa 1, Okla.

Application May 22, 1961,.Ser. No. 111,527, now Patent No. 3,123,319,dated Mar. 3, 1964, which is a division of application Ser. No. 35,353,June 10, 1960, now

Patent No. 3,020,665, dated Feb. 13, 1962. Divided and this applicationMay 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,310

3 Claims. (Cl. 242-,-8,4.2) This application is a division of mycopending application Serial No. 111,527, filed May 22, 1961, now PatoutNo. 3,123,319, which is in turn a division of Serial No. 35,353, nowPatent No. 3,020,665.

The present invention relates to fishing reels and is directed morespecifically to improvements in closed face spinning reels. Closed facespinning reels of known design usually include a normally non-rotatablelinespool mounted on an axis parallel to the rod and enclosed by a reelhousing. The reel housing or casing is provided at its forward end witha central opening, through which the line passes in either direction,and payout or retrieval of line is effected by revolving movements ofthe line, in winding or unwinding directions, about the line spool. Arotatable pick-up element is provided for winding the line about thespool during retrieval and appropriate feather and line brake means areprovided to control and prevent, respectively, the pay out of line.

In one form of closed face spinning reel a line pick-up means isprovided by means of a rotatable pick-up head mounted in partiallysurrounding relation to the line spool and in a reel of this type, linebraking action may be effected by forward movements of the pick-up head,

into contact with the front face of the reel housing or casing.

The present invention is directed specifically toward the last describedform of reel and is concerned more specifically with a novel form of acombination feathering and pick-up means utilizing forward movements ofthe pick-up head to engage the line during casting by a featheringfinger mounted on the pick-up head.

In accordance with a more specific aspect of the invention a novel andimproved feather brake means is provided for a reel of the typedescribed which is simplified, durable and reliable and which affords aparticularly advantageous feather braking ,action. In this respect, theimproved feather braking means of the invention, while providingfeathering action by, in effect, brushing the line as it passes betweenthe pick-up head and the front wall of the reel casing, efiectivelycontr-ols the line as it is passed out from the reel during casting.

, The reel of the present invention provides an improvement over earlierfeathering arrangements in that the forward movement of the pick-uphead, itself, moves the feather brake into play. Another aspect of thepresent invention is a new arrangement of a pick-up pin support and itsguide keeper in combination with a reel construction in which forwardmovement of the pick-up head is utilized to effect feathering, fullbraking, and pick-up pin retraction. The new and improved arrangement issimple, economical, capable of manufacture without undue regard formachining and other tolerances, and is especially reliable in operation.I

Other and more specific aspects and advantages of this invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustratesa useful embodiment in accordance with this invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of thecombination rod handle and reelstructure in accordance with this invention, shown in its assembledoperative condition;

Ice

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the assembled structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4 andillustrating particularly one position of the click and anti-reverseelements of the reel;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views similar to FIG. 5, illustratingadditional positions of the click and antireverse elements;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along line 9-9 ofFIG. 3, showing the parts of the reel in the line pick-up or re-windingposition;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the parts of the reelat a stage preparatory to casting;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG.10, illustratingseveral positions of the pick-up pin at different stagesin the rotation of the pickup head;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the complete structure; and

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the rod handle and reel structure, thereel being shown in its assembled form.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a reel casing of generallycylindrical form comprising a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12adapted to be separably joined together coaxially, as will be more fullydescribed hereinview taken along after, to form the casing Cfor'enclosing a spinning reel comprising the sub-assembly, designatedgenerally by the numeral 13 (FIG. 13), which is adapted to be insertedbodily as a unit into the casing to form therewith a closed-face typespinning reel. Casing portions 11 and 12 are joined directly to forwardand rearward handle portions 14 and 15, respectively, of a fishing rodhandle H,by any suitable means such as the screws 14b and 15a (FIG. 9).Handle portion 14 constitutes the forward or chuck portion of the handleand is provided with a socket 14a (FIG. 9) opening to its forward endand adapted to receive and to have secured therein, by means of thescrews 14b, the butt end of a fishing rod 16 of any suitable andconventional form. Forward handle portion 14 and rearward handle portion15 constitute a double-grip type handle commonly used for heavy dutyservice, such as in surf fishing, and both portions are suitably andconventionally shaped and constructed for this purpose, as shown.

Casing portions 11 and 12 are adapted to be hingedly and releasablyconnected together by means of cooperable hinge clips 17 and 18 mountedon top of easing portions 11 and 12, respectively, adjacent theconfronting ends of the casing portions. Diametrically opposite thehinge clips 17 and 18 the casing portions are provided with releasablelock means comprising a lug plate 1? fixedly secured to casing portion11 and carrying a rearwardly projecting flat lug 20 having lips 21extending laterally from the opposite side edges of lug 20 at itsrearward end. A locking arm 22 is pivotally secured to reel casingportion 12 by means of a pivot screw 23, which is threaded into casingport-ion 12 so tha-tby loosening the pivot screw the arm 22 will beloosened for both pivoted movement about the pivot screw and for rockingmovement toward and away from casing portion 12. At its forward end arm22 is provided with a flat C-shaped jaw 24 adapted snugly to receive lug20 and provided with inwardly turned lips 25 adapted to engage behindlips 21' when arm 22 is pivoted to align jaw 24 with the end of lug 20.When so aligned, by tightening pivot screw 23, jaw 24 will co-operatewith lug 20 to lock the casing parts rigidly together. To release thislock, pivot screw 23 is loosened by unscrewing, the rear portion of arm22 may then be rocked upwardly toward casing portion 12, therebyswinging jaw 24 below lug 2t and by then turning arm 22 to one side jaw24 may be swung out of alignment with lug 20, thereby releasing casingportion 11 from casing portion 12 and allowing the former to be swungupwardly about the pivoted connection provided between clips 17 and 18to thereby permit separation of the portions of the casing. The rear endportion of arm 22 may be provided with a downwardly and forwardly curvedfinger grip 26, such as is conventionally employed in casting rods.

Rear casing portion 12 is provided in its forward edge withcircumferentially spaced slots 27, 28 and 29 (FIG. 1) which are adaptedto receive portions of the sub-assembly 13 in order to permit the latterto be properly seated inside the casing and permit operating membersthereof to project outside the casing. Forward casing portion 11 isformed to provide a forwardly tapering, generally conical front face 30,the center of which is pierced by an eye 31 through which the fishingline L passes. The rear wall 32 of rear casing portion 12 is providedwith a generally rectangular opening 33 in which a thumb pressure block34 is hingedly mounted. The latter has its upper end pivoted on a hingepin 35 extending transversely between the upper ends of a pair ofsupport lugs 36 projecting rearwardly from wall 32 adjacent the oppositeside edges of opening 33. The free end of block 34 is provided with anangular extension 34a which projects forwardly through opening 33 andhas a leaf spring 34b mounted on its forward end (FIGS. 9 and By meansof the pivoted connection of the pressure block, extension 34a will bemounted for swinging movement through opening 33 for controlling theoperation of the reel, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The sub-assembly 13 comprising the reel structure proper includes acircular mounting plate 37 adapted to be positioned transversely ofcasing C and provided at its forward and rear faces with forwardly andrearwardly extending flanges 38 and 39, respectively, the latter beingdisposed radially inwardly of the periphery of plate 37, whereby todefine an outwardly projecting annular rim 40, the diameter of which issuch that when plate 37 is inserted between the portions of casing C,the confronting ends of casing portions 11 and 12 will slidably receivethe respective flanges 38 and 39 and the confronting edges ofthe casingportions will abut the opposite faces of rim 40, whereby to clamp baseplate 37 and the reel structure supported thereby between the casingportions when the latter are connected together to form the finaloperating structure. Plate 37 is provided with a central forwardlyprojecting cylindrical boss 41 which is preferably integrally formedwith plate 37, but which may be otherwise secured to the forward facethereof in any known manner. The forward end of boss 41 is reducedsomewhat in diameter forming the boss extension 41a.

A line spool, designated generally by the numeral 42, has the line Lwound thereon and comprises a hollow hub 43, an annular front flange 44,and an annular rear flange 45. Hub 43 has an axial opening 46 adapted toslidably receive boss 41. The edge of rear flange 45 is provided withratchet teeth 47, for purposes to be subsequently described. A springclip 42a removably secures spool 42 in place on boss 41.

Boss 41has an axial bore 48 in which is rotatably and slidablyjournalled a cylindrical shaft 49 which projects through bore 48 bothrearwardly of plate 37 and forwardly of boss extension 41a. A linepick-up head 50 is mounted on the forward end of shaft 49 for rotationaland axial movement by corresponding movements of shaft 49. The latterhas on its forward end a threaded pin 51 which projects through acentral opening 52 in the pick-up head to receive a nut 53 to therebyprovide means by which the pick-up head may be releasably secured to Car7t shaft 49. Pin 51 has a flat 51a at one side and opening 52 iscorrespondingly shaped, as best seen in FIG. 11, to lock pick-up headagainst rotation relative to shaft 49.

Line pick-up head 50 is generally circular and is formed with agenerally cylindrical, rearwardly extending peripheral flange 54, whichis adapted to extend rearwardly over the periphery of front flange 44 ofthe spool to a point intermediate flanges l -land 45 when the pick-uphead is in the retracted position against the forward end of bossextensions 41a (FIG. 9). The rearward end portion 49a of shaft 49 whichprojects rearwardly through plate 37 is reduced in diameter, and thereduced diameter portion has mounted thereon a spur gear 55 which issuitably splined to the shaft portion 49a to permit relative axialmovement of the shaft through the gear without relative rotationtherebetween. A coil spring 56 is positioned about shaft portion 45a andheld in compression between gear 55 and a stop ring 57 mounted on therearward end of shaft portion 49a. Spring 56 serves to urge shaft 49resiliently to its rearward position (FIG. 9), while at the same time,thrusting gear 55 against the rear face of mounting plate 37, whichserves as a bearing for the gear. A face gear 58 is mounted on a driveshaft (FIG. 3) and is disposed to mesh with spur gear 55. Shaft 59,which extends substantially at right angles to shaft 49, is suitablyjournalled in a bearing 60 mounted on the rear face of plate 3'7 (FIGS.3 and 4), and is of a length sufficient to project from the side ofcasing C when the structure is assembled (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The outerend of drive shaft 59 carries a handle 61 which may be rotated in orderto drive shaft 49 through the intermeshing gears 55 and 58. Rotation ofshaft 49 will drive pickup head 50, which will be rotated incounterclockwise direction (as viewed from the front of the reel) inorder to wind the line on the spool.

Pick-up head 50 carries on its inner face line pick-up andline-feathering elements. The pick-up elements, as best seen in FIGS. 9,10 and 11, comprise a pick-up pin 65 mounted in the outer end of a slideblock 66 which is mounted to slide radially along the inner face of thepickup head in an enclosing guide keeper 67 secured to the inner face ofpick-up head 59. Pick-up pin 65 is disposed in registration with anopening 68 in flange 54 for projection and retraction therethrough inresponse to movements of the pick-up head, as will be subsequentlydescribed. Pick-up pin 65 extends through a bow spring 70 which bearsagainst the outer end of slide block 66 and also against spaced portionsof the inner wall of flange 54, whereby to normally urge slide block 66radially inwardly, thereby urging pick-up pin 65 to its retractedposition inside the outer periphery of flange 54, as seen in FIGS. 10and 11.

Pick-up head 50 also carries a line feathering finger 71 (best seen inFIGS. 4 and 12) which has one end mounted on the inner face of pick-uphead 50. The opposite end of finger '71 is reversely bent to provide thetip 72 of rounded configuration, as illustrated, which projects througha slot 73 in the wall of the pick-up head to one side of the centerthereof. Tip 72, which may be made of spring wire, projects forwardly toa position where, when the pick-up head is thrust forwardly duringoperation of the reel, as will be subsequently described, it will bebrushed by line L as the latter spins off of spool 42. The frictionresulting from the engagement of the line with the spring finger servesto give the operator a measure of control of the rate at which the lineis drawn from the reel by the lure, particularly during the final stagesof the cast, in response to pressure exerted by the operator throughthumb block 34, as will appear hereinafter.

The reel herein described also includes improved antireverse and clickmechanisms, as best seen particularly in FIGS. 3 to 8, inclusive. Theclick structure comprises a flat lever 75 pivoted on a pin 76 projectingfrom the rear face of plate 37. At its inner end, lever 75 carries aflexible spring finger 77 extending at an angle to the free end swunginto ratcheting engagement with the teeth of gear 55 at one position ofthe lever (FIG. 7), and to be swung away from engagement with gear 55 atother positions of the lever (FIGS. 5 and 6). At its outer end lever 75is provided with a longtu'dinal crank slot 78 which is adapted toreceive a crank pin 79 mounted on the inner face of a circular crank 80and projecting toward the rear face of plate 37. Crank 80 is pivotallymounted on the rear face of plate 37 near its outer edge about acylindrical pivot boss 81 and secured thereto by means of a pin 81a. Itwill be seen that by angular movement of crank 80 in one direction aboutpivot boss 81, the slot lever-and-crank pin connection between crank 80and lever 75 will act to swing lever 75 in one direc tion to move clickfinger77 into clicking engagement with the teeth of gear 55 (FIG. 7),and when crank 80 is moved angularly in the opposite direction, thelever will be swung in the direction to retract finger 77 from gear 55(FIG. 6). p

The anti-reverse elements operate in conjunction with lever 75 andcomprise a pawl 85 having one end loosely secured to a post 86 mountedon the rear face of plate 37 and urged toward the plate by a coil spring87 positioned about post 86 between a head washer 88 and the end of pawl85. The loose fitting connection between the end of pawl 85 and post 86permits the free end of the pawl i to be moved outwardly and inwardlywith respect to the rear face of plate 37 between a pair of guide blocks89 and 90 mounted on the rear face of plate 37. The free end of pawl 85has an upwardly (with respect to the rear face of plate 37) turnedfinger 91, which is adapted to engage ratchet teeth 92 mounted at theback of gear 58 when the pawl is moved a suflicient distance inwardlytoward plate 37. To accomplish such inward move- 97, which functions asa brake shoe, is positioned so as to ride on serrated edge 47 and isurged against this edge by means of a stepped cam 99, which engages amedial portion of leaf spring 95 and is rotatably mounted on a pivotboss 10%? projecting from the rear face of plate 37. Cam 99 is shaped sothat as it is rota-ted about boss 100 it will apply increasing ordecreasing pressure, depending on the direction of rotation, againstleaf spring 95, which will, in turn, transmit this pressure in the formof frictional drag of lug 97 on serrated edge 47 of the line spoolflange. A knurled drive disk 101 is secured to cam 99 and arranged tohave its knurled periphery projecting through opening 27 in rear casingportion 12 to the exterior of the casing at a point at one side and nearthe top of the casing, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, where it may bereadily contacted by the thumb or finger of the operator for adjustingthe tension on the drag spring. The serrations 47 co-operate with lug 97to provide a clicking sound when the tension on the fishing line isgreat enough to overcome the resisting pressure of drag spring 95 andproduce rotation of the spool around boss 41.

The sub-assembly 13 comprises, all of the reel structure carried onmounting plate 37, as heretofore de-.

scribed, and is insertable bodily in casing C. Ordinarily, thesub-assembly will be inserted in rear portion 12, drive shaft 59 beingslipped into notch 23, drag disk 191 fitted merit, lever 75 isprovidedwith an tip-turned lug 93 at a point intermediate pivot 76 andslot '78 which is in alignment with the underside of pawl 85. In theneutral and click-engaging positions of lever 75, shown respectively inFIGS. 5 and 7, lug 93 will be positioned beneath pawl 85 so as to beoperative to lift the pawlaway from plate 37 and thus to move finger 91out ofthe path of ratchet teeth 92 (FIG. 8). In the fully retractedposition of the lever, illustrated particularly in FIG. 6, lug 93 willhave been moved to a position where it is out from under pawl 85,thereby releasing the latter for movement inwardly toward plate 37 andallowing finger 91 to move into the path of ratchet teeth 92 (shown inbroken lines in FIG. 8). Crank 80 is positioned on plate 37 so that aportion thereof, having a knurled edge, projects through slot 29 incasing portion 12 and is operable by the thumb of the operator to movethe crank between these positions illustrated particularly in FIGS. 5, 6and 7. In the neutral position (FIG. 5) both the click finger 77 andanti-reverse finger 91 willbe out of engagement with gear 55 and ratchetteeth 92, respectively, thereby permitting reverse rotation of thepick-up head and obviating the clicking sound. In the positionillustrated in FIG. 6, the click is inoperative but the anti-reversefinger 91 is in engagement with ratchet teeth 92. Thus, reverserotationof the pick-up head is prevented. In the position, illustrated in FIG.7, the click is engaged,-while the anti-reverse pawl is disengaged. 3

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 12, the reel structure is provided with adrag for the line spool inorder to regulate the tension which may beapplied to the line before the line spol is permitted to slip aboutportion 41 in order to prevent breakage under an excessive pull. Thisdrag means comprises a leaf spring 95 pivoted at one end about .a pivotboss 96 which projects from the fear face of mounting plate 37. The freeend of leaf spring 95 has a forwardly turned lug 97 which projectsthrough an arcuate slot or window 98 provided in plate 37 near theperiphery thereof opposite a segment of serrated edge 47 of rear flangeof the line spool. Lug

into notch 27, and crank disk 89 fitted into notch 29, as best seen inFIG. 1. Line I. will, of course, be threaded through eye 31 and theforward portion 11 of the casing will be hooked to the rear portion bymeans of the hinge clips 17 and 18, and the parts locked in theassembled position by means of the engagement of jaw 21 about therearward end of lug 20, as previously described.

When the casing portions, their attached handle portions and the reelstructure have thus been assembled, spring 3417 on the innerend ofthrust block 34a will normally rest against the rearward end of shaftportion 49a in position to be manipulated in the casting and retrievingoperations of the reel.

The operation of the reel will now be described, reference being hadparticularly to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 which illustrate several steps in theoperation. Referring first to FIG. 9, which illustrates the position ofthe reel parts when the line is being retrieved and wound about spool42, it will be noted that pick-up head 59 has moved to its innermostposition at which it bears against the forward end of boss extension41a, and line L is engaged by pick-up pin 65 which projects outwardlythrough opening 68 in pick-up head flange 54. FIG. 10 shows the firststep of the casting position, which is also a temporary braking positionfor holding the line against outward movement. Pressure will have beenapplied to pressure block 34 to move extension 34a inwardly of thecasing, whereby the forward end of extension 34a, acting through spring34b, will urge shaft 49 forwardly to thereby move pick-up head 50forwardly until its forward peripheral edge, indicated at 50a andslightly rounded as shown, engages an annular brake ring 102, which maybe in the form of a conventional O-ring formed of rubber or the like,which is mounted on the inner wall of front face 30 of the casingsubstantially in registration with the line of contact of edge 59a withfront face 30. Advantageously, the conical front face 30 of the reelcasing is formed to provide, adjacent the base of the cone, I

pressure is relieved from pressure block 34 and spring 56 will thereuponact on shaft 49 to draw pick-up head 54? rearwardly out of contact withring 102, thereby freeing the line for outward movement. The cast maythen be made, occur-ring contemporaneously with the release of thumbpressure on pressure block $4. As the lure is in flight, re-applicationof thumb pressure, less than that necessary to move edge 52 intoengagement with ring ltlZ, will position feathering finger '72 in thepath of movement of the line as it unwinds from the spool, the fartherthe head is moved forwardly, the greater Will be the extent of thebrushing contact of the line with the finger and the greater theresulting measure of restraint on tie outward flow of the line. Thus,the line can be feathered during the cast in order to control andimprove the accuracy of the cast.

When pick-up head 56* is moved forwardly, as previously noted, the innerend of slide block 66 will be moved in front of the forward end of bossextension 61a, as best seen in FIG. 10. When the pressure on block 34 isrelaxed to release the line, the pick-up head carrying slide block 66will be drawn back toward the forward end of boss extension dla, butthis rearward movement will be stopped by engagement of the inner end ofslide block 66 with the end of this extension. Thus, pick-up pin 65 willbe held in its inwardly retracted position under the pressure of spring70 while the line is moving outwardly and pin 65 will remain in thisretracted position until line retrieving operations are begun.

When the cast has been completed, it is necessary for the pick-up headto be retracted to its maximum rearward position, as shown in FIG. 9, inorder to retrieve the line. It is necessary, therefore, to cause slideblock 66 to move radially outwardly from its engagement with the forwardend of boss extension 41a in order to project pick-up pin 65 to itspick-up position and to allow the completion of the retractive movementof the pick-up head. This additonal retraction is effected upon theinitial rotation of the pick-up head in the pick-up direction byproviding on the forward end of boss extension 41a an arcuate cam 69(see particularly FIG. 11). As the rotation of the pick-up head occurs,the deepest part of the cam will move beneath the inner end of slideblock 63 and will allow the latter, in response to the rearward movementof the pick-up head under the urging of spring 56, to move up on to thisportion of the cam, as shown in broken lines at the lefthand side ofFIG. 11. As rotation of the pick-up head continues in the directionindicated by the arrows in FIG. 11, the inner end of slide block 66 willbe forced radially outwardly by the cam surface in order to projectpick-up pin 65 to its outermost position (the broken line positions atthe bottom and right-hand side of FIG. 11), the inner end of the slideblock thus being raised to the level of the outer periphery of bossextension 41a, on to which the inner end of the slide block will bemoved in response to the retractive pressure of spring 56, which willretain the slide block in this position throughout the rotation of thepick-up head while rewinding the line on spool 42; that is, the slideblock 66 and pick-up pin 65 will be in the positions illustratedparticularly in FIG. 9. When retrieving the line has been completed inthis manner, the reel is ready for another cast in the manner previouslydescribed.

During the operation of the reel, the positions of the click andanti-reverse elements, as well as of the drag spring, may be adjusted,as desired, by the operator.

One of the specific, advantageous features of the invention resides inthe new arrangement of pick-up pin support or slide block 66 and itsguide keeper 67, in combination with a reel construction in whichforward movement of the pick-up head 50 is utilized to effectfeathering, full braking and pick-up pin retraction. Thus, were bothfeathering and full braking are accomplished by forward movement of thepick-up head, a substan tial range of forward movement is advantageousto afford more delicate control during feathering. This introduces acollateral problem, however, as it normally would cause the pick-up pinto become retracted during an initial portion of the forward movement ofthe pick-up head and substantially in advance of engagement of the headwith the brake ring 162. If this were allowed to occur, the line wouldbe released for a substantial interval upon depressing the block 34 inpreparation for making a cast. This would permit line to be drawn out bythe weight of the lure, unless the actuation of the pressure block 34were extremely rapid.

The problem discussed above has been obviated in the reel of the presentinvention by proportioning the slide block 66 and guide keeper 67 in amanner to accommodate a predetermined, significant amount of movement ofthe lower end of the slide block relatively toward and away from thefront face of the pick-up head 50. This permits the base of the slideblock 66 to remain on the boss extension 41a throughout much of theforward movement of the pick-up head 50 and to an instant coincidingwith or immediately prior to en agement of the pick-up head with thebrake ring 102.

In the illustrated, advantageous form of the invention, the base (inner)portion of the slide block 66 is of substantially less thickness thanthe head portion, and the guide keeper is provided with confiningflanges spaced from the front wall of the pick-up head a distancesubstantially (e.g., 1 /2 times) greater than the thickness of the baseportion of the slide block but 'less than the thickness of its headportion. The guide keeper thus erves two functions, in addition to thatof guiding the slide block; it limits radially inward movement of theblock by engaging its head portion, as indicated in FIG. 10; is also,and as an important function, permits the base of the slide block toswing away from the adjacent wall of the pick-up head 50, during forwardmovement of the latter, so that the slide block remains supported in aradially outward position, as shown in FIG. 9, throughout an extendedportion of the forward movement of the pick-up head.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa compact, simply constructed reel assembly which may be easily andquickly assembled and dis-assembled, which is substantially trouble-freein operation, and which is rugged enough for use under heavy-dutyconditions, as in fishing for salt-water fish. The new pick-up andfeathering arrangement, while being particularly effective in operation,is simplified and economical, makes use of standard components andconventional fabricating techniques.

It will be understood, however, that various alterations, modificationsand changes may be made in the details of the illustrative embodiment ofthis invention Without departing from the clear teachings of thedisclosure. Accordingly, eference should be made to the followingappended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a spinning reel of the type having a rotatable pick-up head, astationary cover surrounding said pick-up head and having a portionspaced axially forwardly of said head a predetermined distance, a hubmeans mounting the pick-up head for axial movement with respect to saidcover for effecting feathering action upon partial forward axialmovement, and braking action upon full forward axial movement, and aline pick-up means carried by said pick-up head and held in lineengaging position by a portion of said hub when said pick-up head is ina predetermined reanward position, and in retracted position when saidpick-up head is in predetermined full forward position, the improvementin said pick-up means characterized by said means comprising,

(a) a slide block mounted by said pick-up head for generally radialmovement, I

(b) a pick-up element extending radially from said slide block andprojectable beyond the periphery of said pick-up head into line engagingposition,

(a) said slide block having, an inner control portion said pick-up headgenerally em- :bracing said control portion and cooperating with saidslide block to limit the movements of said pickup element to a generallyradial direction with respect to said pick-up head while accommodatingrelative axial movement of the inner control portion of said slide blockwith respect to said pick-up head substantially effectively equal tosaid predetermined distance between said pick-up head and cover,

(7) whereby said inner control portion remains'in contact with said hubportion during substantially the full forward movement of said pick-uphead.

2. The spinning reel of claim 1 in which,

7 (a) said slide block has an outer portion of substan- 'tially greateraxial thickness than said inner portion, (b) said guide means embracessaid inner portion and defines an axial guide space substantially largerthan the thickness of said inner portion but smaller than the axialthickness of said outer portion,

(c) said guide means and said outer portion cooperating to limitradially inward movement of said slide block.

3. In a spinning reel of the type having a rotatable pickup head, astationary cover surrounding said pick-up head and having a portionspaced axially forwardly of said head a predetermined distance, a hubmeans mounting the pickup head for axial movement with respect to saidcover for effecting braking action upon full forward axial movement, anda line pick-up means carried by said pick-up head .and held in lineengaging position 'by a portion of said hub when said pick up head is ina predetermined rearward position, and in retracted position when saidpickmp head is in predetermined fiull forward position, the improvementin said pick-up means characterized by said means comprising,

(a) a slide block mounted by said pick-up head for generally'radicalmovement,

(b') a pick-up element extending radially from said slide block andprojectable beyond the peripheryof said pick uphead into line engagingposition, a

(c) said slideblock having an inner control portion positioned forcooperative action with portions of said hub whereby to support saidslide block in a radially outward position when said pick-up head i in arearward position,

(d) spring-means urging said slide block radially inward, and

(e) guide means on said pick-up head generally embracing said controlportion and cooperating with said slide block to limit the movements ofsaid pick-up element to a generally radial direction with respect tosaid pick-up head while accommodating relative axial movement of theinner control portion of said slide block with respectto said pickupheadsubstantially effectively equal to said predetermined References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,028,115 4/62 Hammer 24284.23,034,741" 5/62 Macy et a1. 24284.2

3,059,873 10/62 Hull 24284.2

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

3. IN A SPINNING REEL OF THE TYPE HAVING A ROTATABLE PICKUP HEAD, ASTATIONARY COVER SURROUNDING SAID PICK-UP HEAD AND HAVING A PORTIONSPACED AXIALLY FORWARDLY OF SAID HEAD A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, A HUBMEANS MOUNTING THE PICKUP HEAD FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAIDCOVER FOR EFFECTING BRAKING ACTION UPON FULL FORWARD AXIAL MOVEMENT, ANDA LINE PICK-UP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PICK-UP HEAD AND HELD IN LINEENGAGING POSITION BY A PORTION OF SAID HUB WHEN SAID PICK-UP HEAD IS INPREDETERMINED REARWARD POSITION, AND IN RETRACTED POSITION WHEN SAIDPICK-UP HEAD IS IN PREDETERMINED FULL FORWARD POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENTIN SAID PICK-UP MEANS CHARACTERIZED BY SAID MEANS COMPRISING, (A) ASLIDE BLOCK MOUNTED BY SAID PICK-UP HEAD FOR GENERALLY RADICAL MOVEMENT,(B) A PICK-UP ELEMENT EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID SLIDE BLOCK ANDPROJECTABLE BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PICK-UP HEAD INTO LINE ENGAGINGPOSITION, (C) SAID SLIDE BLOCK HAVING AN INNER CONTROL PORTIONPOSITIONED FOR COOPERATIVE ACTION WITH PORTIONS OF SAID HUB WHEREBY TOSUPPORT SAID SLIDE BLOCK IN A RADIALLY OUTWARD POSITION WHEN SAIDPICK-UP HEAD IS IN A REARWARD POSITION, (D) SPRING MEANS URGING SAIDSLIDE BLOCK RADIALLY INWARD, AND (E) GUIDE MEANS ON SAID PICK-UP HEADGENERALLY EMBRACING SAID CONTROL PORTION AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SLIDEBLOCK TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID PICK-UP ELEMENT TO A GENERALLYRADIAL DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID PICK-UP HEAD WHILE ACCOMMODATINGRELATIVE AXIS MOVEMENT OF THE INNER CONTROL PORTION OF SAID SLIDE BLOCKWITH RESPECT TO SAID PICK-UP HEAD SUBSTANTIALLY EFFECTIVELY EQUAL TOSAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID PICK-UP HEAD AND COVER, (F)WHEREBY SAID INNER CONTROL PORTION REMAINS IN CONTACT WITH SAID HUBPORTION DURING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PICK-UPHEAD.